Aspirations



This publication from the Institute of Education Sciences is a guide that is intended to assist schools and school districts develop practices to increase access to higher education. This publication contains specific steps on how to implement the recommendations that are targeted at school- and district-level administrators, teachers, counselors, and related education staff. The guide also indicates the level of research evidence demonstrating that each recommended practice is effective.

This paper examines the benefit of performance-based scholarships on short-term academic outcomes, longer-term academic outcomes, the variation of amount and duration on academic outcomes, and which students are most benefitted by scholarships. Using a random assignment research design, 4,921 students were assigned to either a program group, eligible to earn performance-based scholarships, or a control group. The authors found most students met the academic benchmarks for one or more semesters and increased the number of credits earned during the first year.

This report describes findings from ACT's 2013 College Readiness Assessment, with a special focus on student interest in STEM. The data displays the results by STEM subject, demographic, and college readiness score. A summary of key findings and details of the test are briefly discussed, and extra resources for further investigation of the topic are provided.

This toolkit provides strategies, resources, and partnerships to help students transition successfully to postsecondary education and training. The strategies, resources, and partnerships included are focused around several elements that are instrumental in preparing students for college and careers, such as developing a comprehensive academic plan, developing 21st century skills, emphasizing high expectations, identifying personal learning styles, integrating career-focused courses into academic content, and more.

This report discusses the fundamental design elements of quality bridge programs, drawing from the example of Carreras en Salud in Chicago. Bridge programs provide low-skilled workers with enrichment opportunities to increase their readiness and competitiveness for employment. Among these opportunities are: career development, contextualized instruction, and support services. The report outlines step-by-step instructions for organizations to consider in creating successful bridge programs - including the development of partnerships, curricula, and logistics.

Using American College Testing (ACT) data, this study assessed whether students have the knowledge and skills necessary to enroll and succeed in a first-year course at a postsecondary institution. The report presents the percentage of students meeting the benchmarks in each area, alignment of student aspirations and workforce demands, graduates exposed to college entrance tests and students pursuing a core curriculum, overall academic achievement and behavior, and policies and practices to improve college readiness.